Posts by Mark Howell
Thinking Thursday: Andy Puddicombe: All it takes is 10 mindful minutes
When is the last time you did absolutely nothing for 10 whole minutes? Not texting, talking or even thinking? Mindfulness expert Andy Puddicombe describes the transformative power of doing just that: Refreshing your mind for 10 minutes a day, simply by being mindful and experiencing the present moment. (No need for incense or sitting in…
Read MoreQuotebook: Intentions and Actions
It’s one thing to intend to do something. It’s another thing entirely to do the things that lead to your goal. What makes the difference? What accounts for the gap? The gap between intentions and actions is character. —Orrin Woodward Share on X Resolved: 13 Resolutions for Life by Orrin Woodward To see the rest…
Read More5 Ways Your Small Group Ministry Needs to Change…Today
Can you feel it yet in your community? Are you recognizing the signs that there is a change in the wind? Does your small group ministry have the design that will work effectively in light of the seismic changes happening in our culture? Ed Stetzer has famously pointed out that “if the 1950s came back…
Read MoreHow to Launch a Small Group Ministry
Planning to launch a small group ministry but not sure what to do first? In my experience there are four key steps to launching a small group ministry. These steps are not hard, but they do require some thinking and decision making. There are also a couple shortcuts if you don’t have the discipline to…
Read MoreDon’t Miss this Inspiring New Study: I Like Giving
A few weeks ago I heard about a small group study that I think you’re going to want to know about. I Like Giving, based on a best-selling book by Brad Formsma, is a powerful four session study that features some of the most memorable video segments I’ve ever seen. “I Like Giving invites you…
Read MoreThinking Thursday: Candy Chang: Before I die I want to…
In her New Orleans neighborhood, artist and TED Fellow Candy Chang turned an abandoned house into a giant chalkboard asking a fill-in-the-blank question: “Before I die I want to ___.” Her neighbors’ answers — surprising, poignant, funny — became an unexpected mirror for the community. (What’s your answer?) Can’t see the video? You can watch…
Read MoreAdd “Small Groups for the Rest of Us” to the Recommended List
I spent some time with a new book from Chris Surratt you are definitely going to want to pick up. Small Groups for the Rest of Us is a great read and is packed with the great insights that only come from a seasoned practitioner accustomed to figuring out how to connect the people you aren’t…
Read More5 Daily Reminders for Building an Effective Coaching Structure
I learn some things over and over again. Just when I think I have it down and can confidently move on to something new, I find myself right back at square one needing a refresher. Can you relate? I’ve found I need a set of reminders that keep me on track. Not a string tied…
Read More6 Steps to Building a Leader Development Process (that Meets Your Congregation’s Needs and Expectations)
I frequently hear from small group pastors that their senior pastors or congregational leaders are uncomfortable with newer strategies for identifying and recruiting leaders. They’ll tell me things like, “I love hearing about the 75 new leaders that were chosen by group members at your life group connections or the 300+ people who said they…
Read MoreDon’t Miss Distinct: Living above the Norm
I spent some time with a new study from LifeWay’s Bible Studies for Life series this week. Distinct: Living above the Norm is the newest addition to a growing line of studies “on topics that are relevant to today’s believers. Studies that help people understand how to apply the Bible to everyday life — their families,…
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